Voltage regulator



Feb. 9, 1932. H. E. NORVIEL ET AL 1,344,790

VOLTAGE REGULATOR Filed Oct. 14, 1929 )Irr, 6. Narviel; John .B Irr- M Io/In M Kely Patented Feb. 9, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT oFFrca am! 1 NOBm OI ANDIBSON, JOHN 3. 10m 01' PINDLI'ION, INDIANA, AND JOHN I. mm, OI DAYTON, OHIO, ASBIGNOBS 'IlO name-m! CORPORATION, OI ANDER- ION, INDIANA A (DBPOI-ATION 0] DELAWARE VOLTAGE REGULATOR lflnflufl fled MN! 1, 1.. Serial N0. 398,508.

bers 28 and 29 for the work and battery 7 This invention relates to a voltage relay or current controllin device, and has among its ob 'ects to provide a device which will safegua the working circuit of the accessories 5 about an automotive vehicle.

Another object of this invention Is to provide a controlling device to regulate the amount of ener that may be drawn from an accumulator evice.

A further object is to provide a current regulator to be inter-connected in a work circuit that will operate to maintain the current drain between predetermined high and.

low points, and that will be further operative to cut in a resistance circuit when the current drain of the work circuit rises beyond a redetermined value.

Furt er objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description, reference being had to the accom nying drawings, wherein a preferred em iment of one form of the present invention is clearly shown.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a voltage regulator involving the invention.

Fig. 2 is a bottom view of the same.

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of an improved control unit substantially as indicated by the line and arrows 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is an end elevation of an improved unit substantialy as indicated by the arrow 4 of Fig. 1.

Fi 5 is a circuit diagram illustrating the relative connection of the improved unit in the work circuit of an automotive vehicle.

With particular reference to the drawings, 20 indicates a base of sheet metal pressed into form to provide the side walls 21 terminating in attaching flanges 22 apertured at 23 for attachment to a desired or convenient structure of the vehicle. and usually form ing a ground connection with the electrical stem into which the unit is to be inserted.

e base 20 is apertured centrally thereof to receive a non-conducting washer 24 and is overlayed with a nonconducting plate 25 secured thereto by rivets 26 and plates 27. The

base is also provided with line terminal n1emconnections respectively, which are insulated from the said base by the nonconducting plates 30 and 31 respectively. The rivets 26 serve also to secure the terminal members in place, and the member 28 is electrically connected with one of the plates 27 and thence a contact support 32 by said rivets.

Mounted upon the base 20 there is provlded an electro-magnet device embodied in a pair of L-shaped members 40 and 41 hingedly connected at overlapping portions by a spring hinge 42 secured to extrusions 43 of the member 41, and adjustably secured to the member 40*by screws 44 passing through said spring and a spacer 45. This construction provides substantially a flexible U- shaped assembly of which the opposite and parallel legs are the free ends of the L- shaped members. The spring 42 is reduced in cross section at the flexing portion by providing it with the aperture 46 and the lat erally disposed notches 47, which makes it possible for the assembly to be responsive to lighter magnetic influences. The free le 48 of the L-shaped member 40 is aperture to receive a reduced portion 49 of a shouldered stud 50, which prov1des a core for the electromagnet. The L-shaped member 41 forms an armature for the device and carries a contact 33 cooperable with a contact 34 supported by the bracket 32, bein normally urged in engagement therewith by a leaf spring 35 engaging a stop lug as will presently appear.

About the core 50 is provided an energizing winding which includes a relatively lengthy coil of low resistance wire 51 electrically connected to the core 50 at 52. The low resistance wire is serially connected to a relatively short coil of high resistance wire 53 at 54, and this high resistance coil is subsequently grounded to the base 20 at 55. In practlce. it has been found desirable to first wind upon a temporary core the low resistance winding 51 of a considerable amount of copper wire. thence a layer of insulating paper 56 and then solder the high resistance wire 53 to the exposed end of the inner coil at 54. The high resistance wire 53 is of low temperature coefiicient such as nichrome and is of sufficient size and length to offer a resistance of about 40 ohms while the copper coil oiiers a resistance of about 4 ohms. Around this winding is wrapped a few turns of nonconducting or insulating paper 57 and the entire coil is sandwiched between the nonconducting headers 58 and 59.

In assembling the electromagnet, the core is passed through the stop bracket 60 and thence through the header 59, energizing winding, and header 58 with the reduced portion 49 received by the free end 48 of the L-shaped member 40. This extended portion 49 is thence passed through the nonconducting plate 25, the washer 24 and the inner end of the line terminal member 29. Over the threaded portion of the stud is passed a clip 65, electrically connected to a resistance shunt coil 66 having a second cli 67 secured beneath the rivet 26 and electrica l engaging the work terminal 28 of the device. A look washer and nut 68 and 69 are then threaded upon the stud which secures the electromagnet upon the base 20, and the battery terminal in electrical engagement with the core of the winding. After this assembly has been completed the end of the winding 53 is passed through the base 20 and electrically connected thereto at as shown in Fig. 2.

The unit thus described is enclosed by a cover 70, the edges of which depend about and are spring pressed into engagement with the side walls 21 of the bracket, and the unit is interposed in the work circuit of the automotive vehicle as by electrically connecting the battery B with the battery terminal 28 of u the device through a conductor 71, and thence by way of the work terminal 29 through a conductor 72 with the vehicle lights L, ignition device I and horn H, each of which are grounded at 78, 79 and 80 respectively, and are preferably independently associated with switches or circuit controllers 81, 82 and 83.

In the operation of this unit it is obvious that when the main switch S is closed, that current from the battery B will traverse the work circuit 71, to core 50, and thence dividing, a portion of the current will traverse the normal path through the frame 40 of the magnet, the spacer 45, the hinge 42, the L- shaped member 41, the contacts 33, 34, the bracket 32, and one or more of the various work devices L, I or H. A second portion of the current will traverse the core 50, the windings 51 and 53, thence to the ground 55 and return to the battery through its ground. Should the voltage of the battery B or the generator G, exceed the predetermined amount, then the energizing winding of the ele'ctro-magnet will attract the armature sufiiciently to open the contacts 33, 34 by which the work circuit is then shunted through the resistance winding 66. Should the voltage of the battery B or generator G fall below the voltage rate, for instance 7% volts, then the energization of the core 50 will be insufiicient to further attract the armature and the springs 35 and 42 will operate to close the contacts whereby the resistance 66 will be cut out of the work circuit and the normal path will be reestablished as hereinbefore described.

While the form of embodiment of the present invention as herein disclosed, constitutes a preferred form, it is to be understood that other forms might be adopted, all coming within the scope of the claims which follow.

What is claimed is 'as follows 1. A relay com rising in combination, a

2. A relay comprising an electro-magnet having a core, an armature attractable toward the core, a leaf spring to retract the armature from the core, an energizing winding upon the core comprising a high resistance coil and a low resistance coil serially connected and having one end connected to said core and its opposite end grounded, means insulatingly supporting said core and providing a work terminal and a battery terminal therefor, cooperating contacts connected with said armature and work terminal and a shunt coil of high resistance connected to said work terminal and core in parallel with said contacts.

3. A device of the character described, for controlling a generator augmented battery source of current comprising, an L-shaped frame having an opening in the horizontal member thereof, a fixed core mounted upon said frame with one end secured within said opening and extending therethrough, an armature on the frame and extending across an end of the fixed core and connected in a battery circuit and operable to interrupt the same, said core having an energizing winding including a low resistance series coil wound upon the fixed core and a high resistance coil wound upon and serially connected with said low resistance coil, said serially connected windings having one end electrically connected to the core and its opposite end grounded, a resistance device comprising a fixed contact member carried by the frame,

and a movable contact member carried by the armature, and a high resistance coil connected in the work circuit in parallel with said serially connected windings and shunted about said contacts.

4. In a device of the character described, in combination, an electro-magnetic cut-out switch device mounted on a base and providing a pair of insulated line terminals, said cut-out device including a pair of cooperable separable contacts, connected with said line terminals, an energizing winding including a low resistance coil serially connected with a high resistance coil, and a shunt coil connecting said terminals in parallel with said contacts.

5. In an apparatus of the character described, in combination, an energy source and a work line, an electro-magnetic switch device comprising, a winding, a conductor member by which said winding is connected to the energy source, 'a second conductor member having terminal means for the work line, said winding comprising a low resistance coil electrically connected with a high resistance coil and forming a path from said first conductor member in parallel with the work line from said energy source, and a re sistance unit electrically connected across said conductor members 1 n parallel with said winding the said winding responding to the high voltage pressure to connect said resistance unit in the work line.

1 6. In a circuit controlling device, the combination with a pair of cooperating contacts,

the one movable relative to the other for controlling an electrical work circuit, of resilient means for maintaining the contacts normally in engagement, an electro-magnet 40 having a core and armature operative to actuate said movable contact to open the circuit therethrough, an energizing winding wound upon said core and comprlsin a low resistance coil electrically connected with said core and serially connected with a high resistance winding having a ground connection, said winding being shunted around said contacts, and a resistance unit in said work circuit connected in parallel with'said contacts.

In testimony whereof we hereto alfix our signatures.

HARRY E. NORVIEL. JOHN B. DYER. JOHN M. KELLY. 

